Cablegate: October Gaerc - Finnish Presidency Views

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R 121221Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2596
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
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RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0013
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HELSINKI 001042

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UN EU YI SR BO MK SU CG IS LE
IR, IZ, UP, KPAL, FI
SUBJECT: OCTOBER GAERC - FINNISH PRESIDENCY VIEWS

REF: STATE 170214

Classified By: POLCHIEF GREGORY THOME FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

1. (U) PolChief met with Finnish EU Correspondent Jarno
Syrjala Oct. 12 to discuss the October GAERC. Syrjala
welcomed our demarche points and offered the following:

SUDAN
-----
2. (SBU) Syrjala highlighted the increasing urgency that
the EU feels regarding the need for a transition from an AU
mission to a more robust UN force in Darfur. The GAERC
conclusions will reiterate that the EU and member states
(the UK and the Netherlands, mainly) remain committed to
funding AMIS until the end of the year. However, he said,
without the UN re-hatting, EU funding will become
increasingly difficult to secure after January 2007.

3. (C) Separately, Syrjala reported that the EU Troika met
with the AU Executive Council in Brazzaville Oct. 10-11.
Both EU and AU representatives specifically urged Sudanese
FM Lam Akol to accept the UN re-hatting. Akol did not
openly reject a UN mission at the plenary sessions, but the
Sudanese apparently remained as intransigent and as
"difficult to work with as ever" in private meetings,
Syrjala said.

BALKANS
-------
4. (SBU) On Kosovo, Syrjala noted that the GOF will press
the GAERC to adopt a conclusion strongly supportive of UN
Special Representative Matti Ahtisaari, in part as a
response to the increasingly negative public comments
Belgrade has made regarding Ahtisaari's efforts. In
addition, the Troika is scheduled to meet PM Kostunica on
the margins of the GAERC on Monday, before the GAERC holds
formal discussions on Kosovo Tuesday. The Troika will re-
emphasize the importance of a final status agreement by
January, and the fact that the EU and the US remain united
on this. Looking further down the road, the ministers will
also discuss plans for a possible ESDP/policing mission,
and Syrjala agreed fully with the need for close EU-NATO
cooperation to ensure no security gaps.

5. (SBU) On Bosnia, Syrjala said that the GAERC conclusions
would likely focus on supporting the election results and
urging the rapid formation of a government. However, he
added, some member states are becoming increasingly
impatient with the pace of police, justice sector and other
reforms in Bosnia and may press for a statement reflecting
this frustration in any conclusion that refers to Bosnia's
long-term EU perspectives.

MIDDLE EAST/LEBANON
-------------------
6. (C) FM Tuomioja will travel to the region for meetings
with Abbas and with the Israelis Oct. 13-14. Tuomioja
hopes to explore the possibility of Israel's releasing some
funding for Palestinian Authority operations, using the
EU's Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) to ensure that
all funds stays well out of Hamas' hands. The EU believes
this could serve as a way to strengthen Abbas while also
easing the humanitarian situation, but Syrjala predicted
that neither the GOI nor Abbas himself will be overly
enthusiastic. Syrjala expressed full agreement with the US
position regarding the Quartet principles as a prerequisite
for any PA Unity Government, and lamented the fact that
Abbas appears to have overestimated Hamas' willingness to
behave responsibly in discussions aimed at a National Unity
Government.

7. (SBU) On Lebanon, plans for possible EU border security
initiatives both in Lebanon and in Syria remain stalled.
The EU is closer to agreement on police and possible
security sector reform (SSR) initiatives with the Lebanese
Armed Forces (LAF), which would complement US assistance to
the LAF, Syrjala said. Italy and others see a similar
potential mission in Syria as a political test for the SARG
-- that is, a chance for the Syrians to receive training
from the Europeans and at the same time to show tangible
support for UNSCR 1701. However, France remains staunchly
opposed. Syrjala said that Solana will report on both
iniatives, but at this point is not yet ready to make a

HELSINKI 00001042 002 OF 002

strong pitch for moving either forward.

KOREA
-----
8. (SBU) Syrjala confirmed that North Korea has been added
to the GAERC agenda, but did not view a formal conclusion
as likely. France and the UK will have the lead at the
UNSC, and all 25 member states support the US positions,
including a Chapter VII resolution with sanctions, he said.
WARE

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